Strange penny arcade

[roger]

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I just found this picture in my files without any caption or explanation.
It looks more like a subway than an amusement center.
But, check out those machines.....WOW !!!
I can't wait to hear your speculation as to what this possibly could be..
Let's start with the two visible machines closest to the camera..... ROGER

[arrgee]

This is what I found on the interweb thingy Roger:
"Fitchenberg's Penny Arcade" at Spanish Fort amusement park, New Orleans, circa 1910. Photo shows hall with line of arcade machines, electric lights, ceiling fans above. Text "1¢ Vaudeville 1¢" above entrance.
Photo by John Teunisson of New Orleans.
info can be found here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... nisson.jpg

[pennymachines]

I see a Roovers Puss-in-Boots fortune telling automaton together with other fortune tellers, clamshell mutoscopes, stereoscopes and strength testers. To me the lack of variety and, in particular, any gaming machines, which were apparently not permitted here, severely limits its appeal as a Palace of Fun.

[roger]

Thanks arrgee for the enlarged picture of the "subway arcade". . The change booth is now visible as well as the
Puss-in-Boots which Mr. P has made reference to. This machine was made by Roovers Bros. (circa 1900)
These cute little pussies command a price of $ 50,000 in today's high end auctions. ROGER

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[coppinpr]

I've got that photo on my website, I always have it in mind that it was never busy, it just looks wrong, too big, and all the same, it looks boring. True I've seen arcade attendants in that kind of uniform before but they look like NY cops of the time, a bit intimidating don't you think? I do hope the photo wasn't taken on a "busy" day. In those days of limited-sized transport, how long did it take just to get all those machines delivered and installed? A careful look and a bit of estimation gives a number of between 80 and 100 machines!!

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